I am having some trouble buttoning up my second ball joint after I changed the springs. With no drivetrain in the car, it's too light for a floor jack to help much. With about an inch to go before I can thread the castle nut on the ball joint, the car lifts off the jackstands. I am using a spring compresser, and it worked on the driver side, but I think the threaded rod of the compresser is extending too far and hitting the shock stud plate, and I cant close up the A arms and put the nut on the ball joint. It seems I need to clamp or something thew a arms together. Any ideas? Thanks Frank
I just did recently with the same type compressor with no engine in the car. You may need to jockey it just a bit but there is a position that will work.
might try slideing the threaded rod up thru the shock mount hole.last resort would be to grind off the threaded rod a tad bit.Good Luck
Even on the other side, I had to compress the upper A arm with all I had (and I have a lot, if you know what I mean) to be able to attach the nut... Frank
That's the ticket, and it would solve the problem. BUT, the shock mount hole is too small for this threaded rod. I may enlarge it tomorrow anyway and just use a couple of washers on the shock. F
Can you turn the spring compressor upside down and fit the threaded rod through the shock hole in the bottom A-arm?
Well, yes, but I couldn't unthread it from the top to remove it when I am finished. It has a 15/16 nut, and about a 5/8 threaded rod. It looks like it will be easiest to enlarge the shock stud hole to fit the 5/8 rod.
I know just what you mean......sometimes new springs do that with all the weight still in the car. This may be a silly suggestion, but you could try carefully putting sandbags in the engine bay for weight. I know that when I bring 50 lb. bags of concrete mix home in my van, it doesn't take too many of them to bottom out the rear springs. This is prolly a crazy idea, but it just might work. :Smarty:
If you have a crow bar all you have to do is position it into your top A-arm and put some weight to it and then proceed with the nut....................... Wait a minute then you would need the weight for leverage if you don't have it. Lord knows i have alot of it. Another little tid-bit is to strap your car to your jack so when you jack it up on the lower control arm the frame doesn't move. Do you understand what i've said? Not quite sure if that is coming across right. Anyways i've had great success with this procedure. GOOD LUCK!
You could also chain your car to the floor but unless you already had anchors in the floor I don't know an easy way to do it.
Get the shaft of the compressor through the shock mount hole. That's what I had to do. I found I didn't have to enlarge the hole because when futher tightening the compressor it threaded itself throught the hole. It was a bit tedius getting it lined up with the hole but that is the answer! Good luck Harvey
If you dont have any buddys they weigh over 250, pay my expenses, and I'll come stand on your front end for you :laugh: :beer
I just cut the hole a little wider. Torches are sure handy! I'll post a pic... A couple of heavy washers will bolt it right up!
Well, IT'S DONE! :beer Enlarging the hole just a tad did the trick, and it's covered by the shock grommet so it's not visible. I guess the whole operation took about 6 hours. A lift would have made a world of difference. I ending up replacing a tie rod end because I damaged the threads beating it off with a hammer :error: . Don't do that! :Smarty: I'm off to get my two front tires, and I can button it up. A little wiring harness extension tomorrow and I'll be ready for next Saturday, when the motor goes in!! Thanks for everyone's help...
